Push-pull door latch mechanism



Sept. 5, 1967, w. M. KRANTZ PUSH PULL DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed June 2, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WALTER M. KRA/VTZ MM, MQ M ATTORNEYS W. M. KRANTZ Se t. 5; 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 2, 1965 INVENTOR WALTER M KRANTZ JM 72:64 9 M ATTORNEYS w. M. KRANTZ Sept, 5, 1967 PUSH PULL DOOR LATCH MECHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2, 1965 INVENTOR WALTER M K/M/VTZ JW, MQ M ATTORNEYS P 1967' w. M. KRANTZ 3,339,959

PUSH PULL DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed June 2, 1965 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 6 IN VEN TOR J5 WALTER M. KRA/VTZ 86 BY JW, M1; M

ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1967 w. M. KRANTZ PUSH PULL DOOR LATCH MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2, 1965 INVENTOR WALTER M. K/iA/VTZ ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1967 w. M. KRANTZ PUSH PULL DOOR LATCH MECHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 2, 1965 ATTO NEYS WALTE'H'M KRA/VTZ WWW Wmamdfi Sept. 5, 1967 w. M. KRANTZ PUSH PULL DOOR LATCH MECHANISM 7 Sheets Sheet 7 Filed June 2, 1965 INVENTOR A f I? A United States Patent 3,339,959 PUSH-PULL DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Walter M. Krantz, 2355 Lake Shore Blvd., Apt. 304, Mimico, Toronto, Canada Filed June 2, 1965, Ser. No. 460,752 Claims. (Cl. 292-254 The present application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 418,627 filed Dec. 16, 1964, now abandoned and entitled Push-Pull Door Latch Mechanlsm.

The present invention relates to door latching mechanisms and more particularly to a push-pull latch actuating mechanism composed of a minimum number of parts of simplified construction capable of being produced at low cost by conventional extrusion processes.

While various door latching mechanisms have been heretofore proposed to simplify and reduce the number of parts so as to minimize manufacturing expense and installation operations, none of these prior art proposals have resulted in the simplification and reduction of manufacturing expense and installation operations achieved by the present invention. In this connection, the door latching mechanisms of the prior art are customarily made up of respective individually formed support plates providing journal recesses in their outer faces, respective individually formed handle members having shank portions shaped to provide journalled mating cooperation with the recesses of the mounting plates, a rod-like knob connector member removably mounting the door knob at its opposite ends and having a center portion operatively cooperating with a latch plunger of a mortised lock housing which requires a mortised slot opening'through the door edge and a mounting plate apertured to be screw fastened to the door edge, and a keeper plate adapted to be fixed to the door jamb to cooperate with the latch plunger. Where push-pull latch actuators have been proposed these structures also require individually formed support plates, respective individually formed push-pull handle members secured to the support plates, either a rod-like handle connector member formed with cam surfaces to actuate a spring biased latch plunger carried in a lock housing housed in a hollow or mortised door edge or a pivoted spring biased latch member pivot-ally carried on the handle structure, and a keeper plate adapted to be fixed to the door jamb to cooperate with the latch plunger or pivoted latch member. (See United States Letters Patent 1,634,195 to B. W. Johnston, dated June 28, 1957; 2,617,287 to H. B. Tobias, dated Nov. 11, 1952, and 2,980,459 to D. E. Schwanz et al., dated Apr. 18, 1961.) All of these prior latch mechanisms require the use of complicated and expensive multiple parts requiring skill in production and assembly and skillful installation procedures and embody some parts, at least, which are relatively short lived, either breaking easily in use or being subject to malfunction due to wear. As a consequence, these prior art door latches are expensive to manufacture and install and fail to give satisfactory long life service in use.

It accordingly, is a primary object of the present invention to provide a door latch mechanism made up of a minimum number of sturdy parts capable of being produced rapidly and at slight expense by conventional quantity production processes and which require a minimal number of installation operations all of which may be accomplished rapidly by non-skilled labor.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a door latching mechanism which is made up from three or four basic and simple extrusions, a handle connector and a spring metal latch element requiring a maximum of three through drilled holes in the door itself and screw holes in the door edge or opposing jamb for attaching the spring metal latch element to the door edge or jamb.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of three or four basic extruded shapes for forming respectively the door handle mounting plates, the actuating door handles, and the latch release member required to be mounted on the door itself.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a combination of extruded metal and extruded rigid, impact resistant plastic door latch parts which may be em ployed in conjunction to minimize galling and corrosion of mating door latch components and thereby assure free long life operation of the door latching mechanism.

Further objects will appear from the following descrip tion and appended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmental face view of a conventional metal storm door and its associated jamb fitted with a preferred embodiment of the latch mechanism of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the door of FIGURE 1 and the latch mechanism associated therewith taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the door of FIGURE 1 and the latch mechanism associated therewith taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmental perspective view of the extrusion from which the door handle connector bar elements of FIGURES 1 to 3 are cut;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmental perspective view of the extrusion from which the door handle mounting plates of FIGURES 1 to 3 are cut;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmental perspective view of the extrusion from which the door handles of FIGURES 1 to 3 are cut;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmental perspective view of the extrusion from which the latch release members of FIG- URES 1 to 3 are cut;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the spring metal latch member employed in FIGURES 1 to 3;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmental perspective view of a modified door handle extrusion from which the door handle-s of FIGURES 15 to 17 are cut;

FIGURE 9A is a fragmental perspective view of a variant of the FIGURE 9 extrusion which may be employed if desired;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmental perspective view of a modified extrusion from which the latch release members of FIGURES 11 to 13 and 15 to 17 are cut;

FIGURE 11 is a view like FIGURE 1 illustrating a further embodiment of the latch mechanism of the present invention;

FIGURE 12 is a vertical sectional view through the door of FIGURE 11 and the latch mechanism associated therewith taken substantially on line 12-12 of FIGURE 11 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 13 is a horizontal sectional view through the door of FIGURE 11 and the latch member associated therewith taken substantially on line 13-13 of FIGURE 11 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 14 is a face view of the latch release member of FIGURES 11 to 13;

FIGURE 14A is a perspective view of the biasing or retaining spring of FIGURES 11-13 and 23-25;

FIGURE 15 is a view like FIGURE 1 illustrating still another embodiment of the latch mechanism of the present invention;

FIGURE 16 is a vertical sectional view through the door of FIGURE 15 and the latch mechanism associated 3 therewith taken substantially on line 1616 of FIGURE 15 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 17 is a horizontal sectional view through the door of FIGURE 15 and the latch mechanism associated therewith taken substantially on line 17-17 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 18 is a face view of the latch release member of FIGURES 15 to 17;

FIGURE 19 is a fragmental perspective view of a modified handle connector bar extrusion for making the connector bars for the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 15 to 17;

FIGURE 20 is a perspective view of a keeper plate provided for use with doors having smooth edge faces or conventional wooden doors;

FIGURE 21 is a front elevational view of the keeper plate of FIGURE 20;

FIGURE 22 is a front elevational view of a conventional wooden door provided with still another embodiment of the latching mechanism of the present invention;

FIGURE 23 is a fragmental edge view of an enlarged scale showing the door latching mechanism installed on the wooden doors of FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 24 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2424 of FIGURE 23;

FIGURE 25 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 25-25 of FIGURE 23;

FIGURE 26 is a fragmental sectional view of the mounting plate employed in the latching mechanism of FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 27 is a front elevational view of the mounting plate of FIGURE 26;

FIGURES 28 and 29 are respectively front elevational and end views of the spring metal latch member employed in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 22' FIGURE 30 is a perspective view of the door handle connector bar employed in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 31 is a perspective view of the latch release member employed in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 32 is a perspective view of the door handles employed in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 33 is a front elevational view as seen from the left of FIGURE 2 illustrating a simple lock mechanism that may be provided in event the latch mechanism is employed as an outside inswinging door;

FIGURE 34 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 34-34 of FIGURE 33; and

FIGURE 35 is a view like FIGURE 24 illustrating a modified form of biasing spring for retaining the latch release member in its normal inoperative position.

With continued reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are employed throughout to indicate the same parts, the latch release mechanism 20 of this invention may be formed in any suitable manner from extrusions such as those illustrated in FIGURES 4 through 10, 19, 26, 30, 31 and 32. The latch release mechanism is made up of inner and outer handle mounting plates 21 and 22, inner and outer actuating handles 23 and 24, handle connector bar 25, latch release member 26, and a suitable biasing spring 27 to be hereinafter described. The latch release mechanism 20 is mounted on the door 30, illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 19 of the drawings as a conventional hollow aluminum storm door hinged to a conventional Z-bar type door opening framing structure 28 of aluminum in any suitable manner, and is adapted to actuate a spring steel latch element 29 carried by the vertical run 31 of framing structure 28 which cooperates with the free edge of the door opposite the hinged door edge. In FIGURES 22 through 34 a conventional hollow type plywood or Masonite panel door is illustrated hinged in a wooden framing structure 28 carrying on vertical run 31 a latch element 29 in the form of a spring metal tongue struck out of a mounting plate as best seen in FIGURES 28 and 29.

For economy and speed of manufacture, the major components of the latch release mechanism are designed for production as extruded shapes utilizing conventional extrusion processes and equipment. To this end, the handle mounting plates 21 and 22 comprise identical cut-otf sections of a continuous aluminum or rigid, impact resistant, plastic extrusion 35 depicted in FIGURE 5 or suitable modifications to provide the plates 21 and 22 of FIGURES 26 and 27. As shown in FIGURE 5 extrusion 35 comprises a continuous strip-like base portion 36 of uniform thickness and width provided along the longitudinal center line of one face with an upstanding, generally cylindrical, open sided, hollow rib 37 defining an internal, cylindrical journal socket 38 coextensive in length with base portion 36. The respective mounting plates 21 and 22 are produced by cutting off segments of extrusion 35 of predetermined length along transverse lines of cut indicated at 39 in FIGURE 5 and drilling through bolt passages in base portion 36 at opposite sides of rib 37 as indicated at 41 in FIGURE 5. The bolt openings of alternate plates to be used as outer mounting plates 22 may be tapped to threadedly receive securing bolts 43 entered through the inner mounting plate bolt openings and drilled openings 42 provided in the opposite door walls as illustrated in FIGURES l to 3. Alternatively mounting plates 21 and 22 may be mounted through use of round headed screws 43 passed inwardly from the outer plate and threaded into nuts 44 on the inside of the door as shown in FIGURE 12, Wood screws as shown in FIGURE 23, orv may be secured by a single bolt 43 and employed to slidingly mount the handle connector bar 25 as illustrated in FIGURES 15 to 17. In the FIGURES 15 to 17 and FIGURE 23 embodiments, the mounting plates are preferably provided with a through passage 40, preferably rectangular in configuration, to permit free passage of the ends of connector bar 25 employed therewith (see FIG- URES 26 and 27). In all cases, lock washers (not shown) may be applied beneath the bolt heads, wood screws or uts 44 to assure against inadvertent dissociation of bolts 43. Aluminum plates are illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3, 11 to 13 and 26 and 27 while plastic plates are employed in the embodiment of FIGURES 15 to 17. In the FIG- URES 26-27 embodiment the rib 37 is replaced by a right angular rib 37a terminating in a cylindrical journal beading 38a.

The respective handles 23 and 24 comprise identical cut-01f sections of a continuous aluminum extrusion 45, 54 respectively depicted in FIGURES 6, 9 or a modification of extrusion 54 to form handles 23, 24 of FIGURE 32. As shown in FIGURE 6 extrusion 45 comprises a continuous base portion of uniform thickness and width from end to end having respective longitudinally continuous, offset body portions 46 and 47 of predetermined width joined along their adjacent inner edges by an inclined transition section 48. The upper face of body portion 46, as seen in FIGURE 6, at a point inwardly of its line of juncture with transition section 48 is provided with a narrow, longitudinally continuous, upstanding rib 51 the free edge of which is flared out to provide a longitudinally continuous, open sided, generally cylindrical, hollow beading 52 coextensive in length with body portions 46 and 47 and transition section 48. The respective handles 23 and 24 are produced by cutting off segments of extrusion 45 of predetermined length along transverse lines of cut indicated at 53 in FIGURE 6. The outer end of body portion 46 is slotted as indicated at 49 (FIG- URES 1 and 6) for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out. Handles 23 and 24 are pivotally associated with their respective mounting plates 21 and 22 by inserting the hollow beading segments of each into the respective sockets 38 formed by the rib segments of the mounting plates. To assure a proper fit the external dimension of beading 52 is related to the internal socket dimension of rib 37 to effect a close running clearance.

Extrusion 54 is identical, to extrusion 45 except that the upper face of body portion 46 as shown in FIGURES 9 and 9A is provided adjacent its outer edge with a second upstanding rib 51 having its free upper edge flared to provide a longitudinally continuous, open sided, generally cylindrical, hollow beading 52 coextensive with body portions 46 and 47 and transition section 48. The respective handles 23 and 24 formed from this extrusion are produced by cutting off segments along transverse lines of cut 53 as heretofore described in connection with extrusion 45. The second hollow beading 52 is provided to pivotally associate the handles with the connector bar 25 as shown in FIGURES 15 to 17 making it unnecessary to notch or otherwise alter the cut off segments of this extrusion.

The handles 2324 of FIGURE 32 differ from that of FIGURE 9 in that the open sided beadings 52 are formed directly on the face 46 of the extrusion.

While the fit between the aluminum beadings 52 and aluminum journal socket 38 or journal beadings 38a of plates 21 and 23 or connector bar 25 provides a reasonably long life pivotal connection between the respective handles and their mounting plates or connector bar 25, corrosive action may take place at this connection when all metal parts are employed necessitating periodic lubrication or even disassembly and cleaning of the pivotal parts. To avoid such periodic maintenance, extrusion 35, extrusions 45, 54 or extrusion 65 hereinafter described may be made from any suitable impact resistant plastic material, for example, so-called rigid polyvinyl chloride containing a plasticizer exhibiting a lubricating characteristic in association with aluminum. Such a relationship is hereinafter described in connection with the embodiment of the invention depicted by FIGURES 15 to 17 and may be employed in either or all of the other embodiments. The dissimilarity in material employed for the handles and mounting plates or connector bar just mentioned also minimizes, if it does not entirely obviate, the corrosive action that takes place when similar metals are employed for the pivotally mating parts.

While the handle connector bars 25 may take any of the forms depicted in the four disclosed embodiments of the invention, i.e., an extruded aluminum shape such as depicted in FIGURES 1 to 3, a metal bolt and nut as depicted in FIGURES 11 to 13, an extruded rigid plastic shape as depicted in FIGURES 15 to 17, or an extrusion providing the handle connector bar of FIGURE 30, the extruded shape-s are preferred to take advantage of the incident production economies and speed of production. To this end, the connector bars 25 of the FIGURE 1 to 3 embodiment comprise cut-01f segments of a continuous aluminum extrusion 55 as depicted in FIGURE 4 while bars 25 of the FIGURES 15 to 17 embodiment comprise cut-off segments of a rigid, impact resistant, plastic extrusion 65 as depicted in FIGURE 19 and bars 25 of the FIGURES 22 to 34 embodiment comprise cut-off segments of an extrusion shaped to provide the solid journal beadings and oppositely directed flanges of FIGURE 30.

As shOWn in FIGURE 4, extrusion 55 employed for the FIGURES 1 to 3 embodiment comprises a continuous body portion 56 of uniform thickness and width provided along its opposite edges with right angularly disposed, longitudinally coextensive, flanges 57 protruding in opposite directions from the faces of body portion 56. A second pair of oppositely directed longitudinally coextensive flanges 58 are formed'inwardly from one set of end flanges 57 to form a pair of oppositely directed grooves 59 adjacent to one end for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out and a final longitudinally coextensive flange 60 protruding from one face of body portion 56 is formed inwardly of the pair of flanges 58 at a point to assure its disposition slightly inwardly of the outside door wall when the latch mechanism is completely assembled.

headings for the The purpose of the flange 60 will be hereinafter pointed out.

The bars 25 of the FIGURES l to 3 embodiment of the invention are produced simply by cutting off segments of extrusion 55 of predetermined length along transverse lines of cut indicated at 61 in FIGURE 4.

As shown in FIGURE 19, extrusion 65 for the FIG- URES 15 to 17 embodiment comprises a body portion 66 of uniform thickness and width provided along its 0pposite edges with oppositely directed coextensive reduced sections 67, the outer ends of which are flared out to provide longitudinally continuous, open sided, generally cylindrical, hollow journal beadings 68 coextensive in length with body portion 66 and reduced sections 67. The respective connector bars 25 for the FIG- URES 15 to 17 embodiment of the invention are produced merely by cutting off segments of extrusion 65 of pre; determined length along transverse line-s of cut indicated at 69 in FIGURE 19 and notching one of the cut edges to form an abutment shoulder 66a.

The connector bar 25 of FIGURE 30 used in the FIG- URE 22 to FIGURE 34 embodiment is made from an extrusion having a main body of uniform thickness 66 terminating along each longitudinal edge in continuous cylindrical beadings 6811 which serve in use as journal hollow end beadings 52 of handles 23 and 24. inwardly from one journal beadin'g 68a body portion 66 is provided with oppositely directed flanges or ribs 60a similar to flange 60 of FIGURE 4. Beadings 68a are dimensioned to freely pass through passage 40 of plates 21 and 22 and the vertical span of flanges 60a exceeds the vertical dimension of passages 40 sufliciently to assure abutting engagement of flanges 60a with the back face opening defining upper and lower portions of plates 21 and 22.

These connector bars 25 may be connected to the extreme ends of handle portions 46 and mounted in doors 30 in any suitable manner to assure axial shifting movement of the connector bars in a direction normal to the planes of the opposite door faces upon depression of the opposite end of inner handle 23 toward door 36 or withdrawal of the opposite end of outer handle 24 away from the door as required respectively to push the door open or pull the door open. This push-pull operation is particularly desired since egress through a door is normally effected by pulling toward one while ingress is normally effected by pushing on the door. In cases where opposite directional swinging of the door is required, it is merely necessary to effect a reversal of the mounting of latch element 29, its latch release member 26 about to be described, and handle connector bar 25. Thu-s, a reversal would be effected if the door were to be an outside or lock equipped door as shown in FIGURES 33 and 34.

Referring to latch element 29, it is contemplated by this invention to provide a simple spring steel plate member as shown in FIGURE 8 or 20 and 21 of the drawings. As illustrated in FIGURE 8, latch element 29 comprises a mounting portion 71 provided with a pair of laterally spaced through openings 72 to receive mounting screws to fix the latch element to the door jamb 28 as illustrated in this application and an angularly related catch portion 73 adapted to protrude away from jamb 28 int-o latching engagement with the vertically extending protruding rib 74 normally provided on a storm or metal door as illustrated in this application. In cases where the door edge is not provided with such a rib or a wooden door is involved, a flat metal catch or striker plate having a mounting portion 75 as illustrated in FIGURES 20 and 21 with spaced screw holes 76 therein and a right angular flange or rib 77 and a rectangular through opening 78 may be provided for mounting on the edge of door 30 at a point opposite latch element 29. When so mounted the rib 77 is disposed to cooperate with catch element 73 as shown in FIGURE 24 with the shank of latch release member 26 passing freely through opening 78. In lieu of the striker plate the door edge may be notched opposite latch element 29 in a manner obvious to those skilled in the art to receive the end of catch portion 73 in door latching relation. In conjunction with such a striker plate and wooden door, a latch element 29 having an encircling mounting portion 71a and a struck out catch portion 73 as illustrated in FIGURES 28 and 29 is preferred.

The latch release members 26 comprise identical cutoff sections of a continuous aluminum extrusion 81 or 82 depicted respectively in FIGURES 7 and and employed respectively in the FIGURES 1 to 3 embodiment and the FIGURES 11 to 13 and FIGURES to 17 embodiments of the invention or a suitable extrusion to form the latch release member of FIGURE 31.

Referring to FIGURE 7, extrusion 81 comprises a generally T-shaped extrusion the stem 83 of which intersects head 84 at a point olfset toward the heads fulcrum point 85 and extends at an angle such that end 86 will lie adjacent the outer wall of the door abutting shoulder 60 of connector bar 25 when the latch member 26 is in its normal rest position as shown in FIGURE 3. Preferably the inclination is such that the included angle A (FIGURE 7) is slightly greater than 90". In a preferred construction, the angular slope of leg 83 off of a true 90 angle to the head is about one quarter inch per inch of length of leg 83. The respective latch release members 26 employed in the FIGURES 1 to 3 embodiment are produced by cutting olf segments of extrusion 81 of predetermined length along transverse lines of cut indicated at 87 (FIGURE 7).

Extrusion 82 of FIGURE 10 comprises a generally L- shaped extrusion the long leg 88 of which defines with the short leg 89 an included angle A slightly greater than 90. In a preferred construction, the angular slope of leg 88 is one quarter inch per inch of length of leg 88 off a true 90 angle to leg 89. The free end of leg 88.is preferably bent along line B to form a terminal end section 88a disposed at right angles to short leg 89 for a purpose to be presently pointed out. The respective latch release members 26 of both the FIGURES 11 to 13 and the FIG- URES 15 to 17 embodiment may be formed from an extrusion like 82, the only difference being that the short leg 89 of the FIGURES 15 to 17 embodiment will be somewhat shorter than the corresponding leg 89 of the FIG- URES 11 to 13 embodiment.

The latch release members 26 of the FIGURES 11 to 13 embodiment are produced by cutting off segments of extrusion 82 of predetermined length along transverse lines of cut indicated at 87, drilling end section 88a as indicated at 90 in FIGURE 14 to form a bolt passage and notching the juncture between legs 88 and 89' as indicated at 97 (FIGURES 11, 13 and 14) into the respective legs for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out.

The latch release members 26 of the FIGURES 15 to 17 embodiment are produced merely by cutting off segments of extrusion 82 of predetermined length along transverse lines of cut 87.

The latch release member of FIGURE 31 requires an extrusion, the opposite longitudinal edges of which are flanged to provide a T-shaped head 84a and an abutment flange as shown at end 86 in FIGURE 31. This abutment flange is formed with a rounded end to provide, when end 86 is centrally notched, a pair of spaced abutment toes 86a designed to have rolling contact with flanges 60 in operation of the latch mechanism as shown in FIGURE 24. In this release member the included angle C is slightly greater than 90.

While the cutting and notching of the various extrusions may be effected using conventional chop saws or manually operated saws, it is contemplated that quantity production processes employing cutting and punching dies would normally be used in commercial production. Likewise the aperturing of the doors to receive the latching mechanism of this invention would normally be effected at the factory in quantity production by use of suitable punching dies and drilling set ups. However, installation in existing doors may be effected utilizing portable drills and hand tools in a manner that will be clear to those skilled in the art. To this latter end, mounting plates 21 of the FIGURES 22 to 34 embodiment are oversize in area to permit the application of the latch mechanism of this invention to existing fabricated plywood wooden doors having two and one eighth inch drilled openings for conventional door latch mechanisms. In this new construction the through holes need not be over one inch diameter.

Installation and assembly of the latch mechanism of FIGURES 1 to 3 is effected by providing aligned, preferably rectangular, openings 101 in the opposite metal door walls at the desired point along the free edge of the door dimensioned laterally to freely pass the flanges 57, 58 of connector bar 25 and dimensioned vertically to provide a sliding fit with the cut edges of the connector bar 25. The door edge in juxtaposition to aligned openings 101 is provided with a vertically extending slot 102 (FIGURES 1 and 3) approximately high to freely pass stem 83 of latch release member 26 thereby assuring ready entry of stem 83 into position in the path of movement of flange 60 provided adjacent the outer end of connector bar 25. Slot 102 is preferably vertically centered with respect to the common axis of openings 101 and is extended toward the wall of door 30 which forms the trailing wall during opening movement of the door as best illustrated in FIGURE 3 to permit the required swing movement of stem 83. The door edge at a point below or above or both below and above slot 102 is drilled and tapped at 103 to receive mounting screws 104 for mounting spring metal leaf springs 27 provided to bias latch release member 26 to its normal rest position illustrated in FIGURE 3 as more fully described in my copending application Ser. No. 372,467, entitled Simplified Storm Door Latch, filed June 4, 1964.

Assembly of the latch release mechanism 20 of FIG- URES l to 3 is effected by inserting connector bar 25 through openings 101 and positioning the bar so that its flange 60 is adjacent the inner face of the leading wall of door 30, inserting stem 83 of latch release member 26 through slot 102 in the door edge in a manner to dispose its end in the path of movement of flange 60 provided on connector bar 25, and fixing biasing spring 27 to the door edge with its free end overlapping head 84 of latch release member 26 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. This establishes the normal rest position of connector bar 25 and latch release member 26 and yieldingly retains these parts in position while the remainder of the latch mechanism is assembled.

Beading 52 of door handle 24 is then inserted endwise into socket 38 of its mounting plate 22, the handle end containing slot 49 is inserted upwardly between flanges 57, 58 of the connector bar 25 to dispose the slot defining portions of said handle end in operative position in the oppositely facing grooves 59 defined by flanges 57, 58, and mounting plate 22 is positioned flat against the door face so the proper position of mounting plate 22 on door 30 can be marked. The handle 24 is then disassociated from its mounting plate 22 and connector bar 25 and the mounting plate is held in its marked position on the door and a center punch is inserted in each opening 41 to mark the door wall for drilling. Upon removal of the mounting plate 22 after center punching, the door is through drilled to provide the aligned openings 42 heretofore described. Handle 24 is then reassembled with plate 22 and grooves 59 and inner mounting plate 21 with its handle 23 associated with it and bolts 43 in its passages 41 is moved upwardly to engage connector bar body 56 in slot 49 and brought into position against the opposite door wall, the bolts 43 being passed through the door bolt passages 42 and hand threaded into the tapped apertures 41 of mounting plate 22 to effect an initial loose attachment of the latch mechanism 20 to door 30 at this time. After an operational test establishes proper functioning of mechanism 20, bolts 43 are tightened by applying a wrench to the bolt heads at the inner side of the door and the latch plate 29 is fixed to the door jamb 28 directly opposite the head 84 of the latch release member 26'.

Assembly of the latch release mechanism 20 of FIG- URES 11 to 13 is effected by drilling aligned circular holes 108 in the opposite door walls; notching the outer door rib 74 at 109 to receive the reduced area section of latch release member 26 lying between notches 97; passing round headed bolts 43 through bolt passages 41 of outer mounting plate 22, door openings 42, inner mounting plate 21 and applying nuts 44 to the inner protruding ends of bolts 43-; sliding the beads 52 of the handles 23 and 24 into the respective sockets 38 of the inner and outer mounting plates 21 and 22 to initially position the handles; passing the connector bar 25 in the form of a round headed bolt through passage 110 of outer handle 24, through passage 90 of the latch release member 26 which is disposed in its mounting notch 109, through a light coiled compression spring 27, through door passages -8, and through passage 110 of inner handle 23; and applying not 111 to the protruding threaded end of connector bar 25 until spring 27 is placed under sufl'icient compression to bias latch release member 26 counterclockwise around its fulcrum at 112 (FIGURE 13) to firmly abut leg 84 against the door edge.

Assembly of the latch release mechanism 20 of FIG- URES 15 to 17 is effected by vertically slotting the door edge at 113 (FIGURE 17) opposite the axis of upper door passages 42 passing the connector bar 25 through the upper bolt passage 41 of either of the mounting plates 21 and 22, the upper door passages 42 and the upper bolt passage 41 of the other mounting plate, being sure that shoulder 66a faces the free or latched edge of the door and is disposed adjacent the outswinging door wall; inserting leg 86; of latch release member-26 through door edge slot 113 until leg 87 lies flat against the door edge thus disposing the end of leg 86 in the path of movement of shoulder 66a; fixing leaf spring 27 (FIGURES l5 and 17) to the door edge with its upper end overlapping leg 87 and normally yieldingly biasing leg 87 into abutting engagement with the door edge; endwise inserting lower beading 52 of each handle into socket 38 of its mounting plate and entering upper beading 52 endwise into the socket formed by its opposing beading 68 of connector bar 25; and finally crimping inwardly the opposite end extremities of mounting plate headings 21 and 22 as indicated at 114 in FIGURE 15 to fix handles 23 and 24 against accidental disassociation from their respective mounting sockets.

Installation and assembly of the latch release mechanism of FIGURES 22 to 34 is effected by locating the vertical center of the latch mechanism mounting block B conventionally provided in fabricated wooden panel doors or the vertical center in the case of solid wood doors, scribing a guide line indicating the located center along one face adjacent the latch bearing edge of the door and along the latch bearing edge itself, through drilling the door through opposite face panels 122 and 123-, preferably with a one inch drill centered about two and five eighth inches inwardly from the latch bearing edge, to form passage 121 for connector bar 25, drilling a one inch hole centered on the latch bearing edge scribed guide line midway between the door faces to form passage 124 intersecting passage 121, and proceeding to assemble the latch mechanism as will now be described. V

Assembly is preferably effected by first centering passage 40 of mounting plate 22 with the through passage 121 and securing it in place by screwing home mounting screws 125. Connector bar 25 is then inserted endwise from the opposite end of passage 121 with bar 25 positioned so the end 68a adjacent cross-flanges 60a may be passed through passage 40 of plate 22 until flanges 60a abut the back face of plate 22. Handle 24 is then laterally aligned with its journal headings 38a and 68a and slid into place to retain connector bar 25 in its initially assembled position. Completion of the assembly is preferably accomplished by threading the stem of latch release member 26 through opening 78 of striker plate mounting portion 75 and through passage 124 with the stem oriented so its notched end 86 will straddle connector bar 25 adjacent cross-flanges 60a and its abutment toes 860 will be disposed to engage the oppositely directed flanges 6011 as best illustrated in FIGURES 24 and 25. Proper positioning can be assured by visual inspection through the opposite open end of passage 121 and once established can be fixed by positioning one or both retaining springs 27 in place using securing screws 125 which also serve to secure striker plate 75 in position on the door edge. While striker plate 75 may be secured to the finished edge face of the door, it is preferred to notch the door edge as indicated at 126 (FIGURES 24 and 25) to dispose the base of plate 75 in an encircling recess or depression so rib 77 will be backed up by door panel 123 thus relieving securing screws 125 of much of the shear load produced when it is attempted to open the door without releasing latch element 73. The assembly of the door mounted mechanism is completed by telescoping mounting plate 21 over the opposite connector bar beading 68a, securing plate 21 in place with securing screws 125, and mounting handle 23 on its jour nal beadings 38a and 68a in the manner previously described for handle 24. Any suitable means may be employed to fix handles 23 and 24 against disassociation from their respective journal beadings. For example, suitable driven plastic plugs 127 or roll pins 128 may be inserted into the opposite ends of outer socket formations 52 into abutting engagement with the opposite ends of journal headings 68a.

Latch plate 29 is then secured to door framing 28 with latch element 73 directly opposite latch release head 84a by securing screws 125. Preferably the plate body 71a is inset into a recess 129 as best shown in FIGURE 24. The recessing of plates 71a and 75 as described in addition to relieving the securing screws 125 of shear forces in event someone tries to force the door also prevents ready access to the plate bases by someone seeking to pry the plates loose to gain unauthorized entry. In this latter connection, it will be noted that the inner and outer door handles are reversed with respect to the door stop 131 provided by frame 28 in FIGURES 33 and 34 from the showing in the earlier views. Such a reversal is desirable in event the latch mechanism is to be provided for an external entrance door or other door to be provided with a lock mechanism to dispose door stop 131 in overlapping relation to the edge of the outer door face so as to prevent access to latch element 73- upon insertion of a screw driver or other tool between the door edge and opposing door frame.

Such a lock mechanism could take the form of a simple double winged stop wedge 132 (FIGURES 33 and 34) fixedly secured by a screw 133 to the rotatable element 134 of a conventional key actuated barrel type lock mechanism 135 mounted in a laterally centered passage 136 drilled through the door or mounting block B and mounting plates 21 and 22 above connector bar 25. Actuation of stop wedge 132 may be eflected from the inside of the door merely by rotating the wedge in either direction to the dotted line angular position shown in FIGURES 33 and 34 to dispose one or the other of the thickened wing portions 136 in the path of movement of the upper beading 52 of inner door handle 24. Insertion of a key to conventionally move the tumbler pins into coupled relation with the rotatable element 134 of the lock mechanism and turning of the key permits either locking or unlocking of the latch mechanism from the outside of the door.

Should it be necessary to gain access to the latch release member in emergencies, such as a small child locking himself in the bathroom, this may be accomplished by striking the outer handle member 24 edges between the journal beadings 38a and 68a to free one of the plugs 127 or roll pins 128 to gain access to the lower mounting plate securing screws 125, removing the mounting plate 21 to gain access to the end 66 of latch release member 26, and moving the latch release member 26 away from cross-flanges 60a in a latch release direction.

If desired, the two leaf springs 27 of FIGURES 22 to 26 may be replaced by a single leaf spring 27 as shown in FIGURE 35 extending lengthwise of passage 124 from the corner 139 formed by the juncture of plate 75 with the wall of passage 124 to a pair of spring abutment lugs 141 formed by notching of an oppositely directed continuous flange formed on the end 86 of the latch release member 26. The end of leaf spring 27 cooperating with abutment lugs 141 is notched at 142 to provide abutment ears 143 straddling the body portion of connector bar 25 adjacent the area straddled by the notched end of latch release member 26 to retain spring 27 against accidental displacement. This spring arrangement avoids the need of screws for securing the biasing spring in place and improves the appearance of the exposed latch mechanism when viewed from the door edge by eliminating the pair of exposed springs 27.

The operation of all forms of the invention is the same. One desiring passage through door 30- approaches the inner side of the door, places his hand on the portion 47 of handle 23 and pushes against it first tilting handle 23, clockwise as viewed in FIGURES 2, l2 and 16 and counterclockwise in FIGURE 34 around its journal pivot 37, 38a thereby shifting connector bar 25 in a direction to pivot latch release member 26 around its fulcrum 112 (FIGURES 3, 13, 17 and 24) due to engagement of flange 60, 60a or shoulder 66a with stem 83 or leg 86 causing the free end of head 84, 840: or leg 87 to contact and force latch element 29 or 73 out of engagement with door rib 74 or 77 thereby releasing the door for outward swinging movement, and, thereafter, under influence of the continuing pushing force applied to handle 21 and through it to door 30, swinging the door open. One desiring passage from the opposite side of the door grasps portion 47 of handle 24 pulling it outwardly to first tilt handle 24, clockwise as viewed in FIGURES 2, 12 and 16 and counterclockwise in FIGURE 34, around its journal pivot 37, 38a thereby shifting connector bar 25 in the direction just described to effect release of latch element 29 or 73 in the manner previously described to release the door for outward swinging movement and, thereafter, under influence of the continuing pulling force applied to handle 24 and through it to door 30, swinging the door open.

While the illustrated forms of the invention embody jamb mounted spring metal latching elements 29 or 73, it is to be understood that latching plungers for cooperation with jamb mounted keeper plates could be actuated by the handle and handle connector bar mechanism of this invention by shaping rib 60, 60a or shoulder 66a to provide axially directed camming surfaces, reversely disposing the modified rib and shoulder with respect to the free door edge and providing a plunger similar to that disclosed in FIGURE 14 of my aforementioned copending application with the plunger through passage shaped to provide a camming surface for mating cooperation with the modified rib 60, 60a or shoulder 66a.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Actuator means for door or like latching mechanisms including a spring biased latch element comprising:

(a) a pair of mounting plates each composed of a base portion adapted for connection to the opposite door faces and an angularly related support rib extending from one face of said base portion and terminating in a cylindrical journal beading;

(b) a pair of handle members each composed of an elongated body portion, an angularly related support rib extending from one face of said body portion and terminating in a beading shaped, dimensioned and disposed in parallelism to the two edges of said handle members for mating pivotal cooperation with a respective mounting plate journal beading, and connector means adjacent one of said ends of said handles;

(c) a handle connector member comprising a rod-like member having a body portion shaped for free axial shifting movement in a suitable through aperture provided in the door adjacent respectively aligned ends of said pair of mounting plates and also having respective terminal ends formed to be removably connected to said handle connector means so as to form a push-pull connection between said ends of said handle members;

(d) a latch release member positioned along an edge of said door in juxtaposition to said handle connector member and including a body portion engageable by said handle connector member for movement from a normal rest position to a latch release position upon axial shifting movement of said handle connector member under influence of the pivotal movement of said handles;

(e) spring means normally yieldingly biasing said latch release member to its normal rest position with its body portion in engagement with said portion of said handle connector member whereby said actuator means is conditioned for uni-directional, latch element releasing movement upon application of a respective pushing force to one of said handles and a pulling force to the other of said handles.

2. The latch actuator means of claim 1 wherein said handle connector member comprises a headed bolt having its shank end threaded, said handle connector means comprises through apertures at said handle ends, and a threaded nut is provided for threaded association with said bolt shank end.

3. The latch actuator means of claim 1 wherein said mounting plates comprise plate-like members provided along the longitudinal centers of one face with an upstanding rib terminating in a generally cylindrical journal formation.

4. The latch actuator means of claim 3 wherein said handle members comprise plate-like members each provided along one face with a generally medially located, upstanding, longitudinally continuous rib terminating along its free edge in a longitudinally coextensive cylindrical formation dimensioned for respective mating pivotal cooperation with said cylindrical journal formation of said mounting plates.

5. The latch actuator means of claim 4 wherein said handle members are composed of anodized aluminum and said mounting plates are composed of impact resistant, rigid plastic thereby assuring a corrosion resistant pivotal connection between said mounting plates and said handle members.

6. The latch actuator means of claim 1 wherein said latch release member comprises a head portion at the door edge end of said body portion for selectively engaging and releasing the spring biased latch element and said latch release member body portion comprises an elongated shank-like portion extending away from said head portion at an inclination and terminating adjacent said handle connector member and said handle connector member is provided with an abutment formation disposed to move in a path to intersect the terminal end of said elongated shank-like portion whereby upon pushpull actuation of said handles said abutment formation will engage said terminal end and move said shank-like portion in a direction to tilt said head portion into releasing engagement with the spring biased latch element.

7. The latch actuator means of claim 1 wherein said handle connector member comprises an elongated body portion formed at its opposite ends with flange formations protruding from its opposite faces and providing coupling connections to the connector means of said handles and formed inwardly from one end on one face with an additional flange formation for engagement with said body portion of said latch release member.

8. The latch actuator means of claim 1 wherein said handle connector member comprises an elongated body portion formed at its opposite ends with laterally directed cylindrical headings providing coupling connections to the connector means of said handles and formed inwardly from one end with axially facing shoulder means for engagement with said body portion of said latch release member.

9. The latch actuator mechanism of claim 1 wherein said latch. release member comprises a generally T- s-haped member the stem of which constitutes said body portion and the head of which provides a fulcrum portion at one side of said stem and a latch release portion at the opposite side of said stern, said stem being disposed to join said head substantially along the transverse centerline of said head and to extend away from said head at an angle such that the included angle between the stem and latch release portion of said head is greater than 90.

10. The latch mechanism of claim 1 together with key actuated lock means including a wedge member shiftable between a normal inoperative position adjacent said one end of one of said handle members to an operative position in the path of movement of said one end of said one handle member.

11. The latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises an elongated leaf spring having one end medially notched to form abutment ears, said latch release member is of generally T-shaped configuration in cross-section with its free stem end formed to provide laterally spaced abutment lugs for engagement with the free ends of said abutment ears, and said stem and said leaf spring are disposed inside the door with their abutment ears and lugs engaged on opposite sides of said handle connector member and their body portions diverging toward the door edge where the other end of said leaf spring abuts a portion of the door to tension the spring and bias the latch release member to its normal rest position.

12. The latch actuator means of claim 1 wherein said latch release member comprises an angle member providing a long leg which constitutes said body portion and a short leg which constitutes a latch release portion, said spring means comprises an elongated spring metal plate fixed at one end to said door edge and having its other end disposed in overlying, face abutting engagement with said short leg, and said latch release member is fitted to the door with its short leg in face abutting engagement with the door edge and its long leg extending laterally of the door to a point of connection with said handle connector member.

13.The latch actuator means of claim 12 wherein the angle member is of generally L-shaped configuration.

14. The latch actuator means of claim 13 wherein the long and short leg of said latch release means define an included angle slightly greater than and the line of juncture therebetween is disposed in fulcrum bearing contact with a vertical corner of said door formed in part by a portion of said door edge.

15. The latch actuator means of claim 12 wherein the angle member is of generally T-shaped configuration with the long and short legs defining an included angle slightly greater than 90 and the free end of the long leg is provided on the face opposite said included angle with a pair of laterally spaced round ended flange formations forming fulcrumming toes for engaging with said connector member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,634,195 6/1927 Johnston 292-254 2,660,765 12/1953 Carlson 292-254 X 2,980,459 8/1957 Schwanz et a1. 292122 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. 

1. ACTUATOR MEANS FOR DOOR OR LIKE LATCHING MECHANISMS INCLUDING A SPRING BIASED LATCH ELEMENT COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF MOUNTING PLATES EACH COMPOSED OF A BASE PORTION ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO THE OPPOSITE DOOR FACES AND AN ANGULARLY RELATED SUPPORT RIB EXTENDING FROM ONE FACE OF SAID BASE PORTION AND TERMINATING IN A CYLINDRICAL JOURNAL BEADING; (B) A PAIR OF HANDLE MEMBERS EACH COMPOSED OF AN ELONGATED BODY PORTION, AN ANGULARLY RELATED SUPPORT RIB EXTENDING FROM ONE FACE OF SAID BODY PORTION AND TERMINATING IN A BEADING SHAPED, DIMENSIONED AND DISPOSED IN PARALLELISM TO THE TWO EDGES OF SAID HANDLE MEMBERS FOR MATING PIVOTAL COOPERATION WITH A RESPECTIVE MOUNTING PLATE JOURNAL BEADING, AND CONNECTOR MEANS ADJACENT ONE OF SAID ENDS OF SAID HANDLES; (C) A HANDLE CONNECTOR MEMBER COMPRISING A ROD-LIKE MEMBER HAVING A BODY PORTION SHAPED FOR FREE AXIAL SHIFTING MOVEMENT IN A SUITABLE THROUGH APERTURE PROVIDED IN THE DOOR ADJACENT RESPECTIVELY ALIGNED ENDS OF SAID PAIR OF MOUNTING PLATES AND ALSO HAVING RESPECTIVE TERMINAL ENDS FORMED TO BE REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID HANDLE CONNECTOR MEANS SO AS TO FORM A PUSH-PULL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID ENDS OF SAID HANDLE MEMBERS; (D) A LATCH RELEASE MEMBER POSITIONED ALONG AN EDGE OF SAID DOOR IN JUXTAPOSITION TO SAID HANDLE CONNECTOR MEMBER AND INCLUDING A BODY PORTION ENGAGEABLE BY SAID HANDLE CONNECTOR MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT FROM A NORMAL REST POSITION TO A LATCH RELEASE POSITION UPON AXIAL SHIFTING MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE CONNECTOR MEMBER UNDER INFLUENCE OF THE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLES; (E) SPRING MEANS NORMALLY YIELDINGLY BIASING SAID LATCH RELEASE MEMBER TO ITS NORMAL REST POSITION WITH ITS BODY PORTION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PORTION OF SAID HANDLE CONNECTOR MEMBER WHEREBY SAID ACTUATOR MEANS IS CONDITIONED FOR UNI-DIRECTIONAL, LATCH ELEMENT RELEASING MOVEMENT UPON APPLICATION OF A RESPECTIVE PUSHING FORCE TO ONE OF SAID HANDLES AND A PULLING FORCE TO THE OTHER OF SAID HANDLES. 